Welcome back to our composting series! Today we are going to discuss what kind of container to use, where to put it in your home, what to compost and what not to compost, and how it’s important for the environment to compost.

Types of Composting

As you embark upon this possibly newfound journey of giving your food scraps back to the Earth so that they may revitalize the soil and enrich the quality of home-grown produce; there are several things to take into consideration. Some of the first things to consider are; what kind of composting method would you like to use? Where would you like for it to be? Would you like it to be in a free standing pile or in an outdoor or indoor bin? Making this decision will help you figure out at what scale are you wanting to work with.

Where to Put the Compost

Typically people who compost have a compost bin inside perhaps under the kitchen sink or on the counter top or in a designated area where it can be kept out of direct sunlight. There are many types of bins to use indoors to store the food waste until you empty it into the bigger pile outdoors or into the outdoor compost container or bin. Remember that the food scraps start to decompose when they start to rot so gasses are release and these gasses attract fruit flies and regular flies. All indoor bins must have ventilation holes and a lid.

What to Compost and What NOT to Compost

Not everything can go into a compost pile because certain things such as acidic fruits can alter the pH level of the pile and make it uninhabitable for the healthy little critters that show up and help break down the food waste and turn it into nutrients for the soil. While it make not be the most difficult thing to maintain, be sure to maintain a proper carbon, nitrogen, and pH level in the soil is KEY to healthy compost.

How Composting is Important for the Environment

The act of composting has many benefits to the environment that we may not notice because it is happening at a micro-cellular level. When we want to make mashed potatoes and for those of us who peel the potatoes first, instead of throwing the peels away, choosing to put them in a compost bin allows the natural product to break down and for its still vital nutrients return to the soil from which it originally came. We as Humans have the choice to better this Earth and by taking small steps such as placing potato skins in a designated area on the ground, instead of in a plastic garbage bag. By making this choice, we are making a healthy and conscious effort to reverse the detriment that has been inflicted on the Earth caused by over consumption, excess waste, and the use of harmful chemicals in our water, soil, and air.

Together, we can be the change this Earth needs not only Survive, but to Thrive

Thanks for tuning in to Caromont Farm's Make a Difference Mondays! This is the first post of a multi-week series where we will discuss composting and how to take the first step for at home food waste management.

Sometimes the first step is the hardest one to take but when it comes to composting, taking the first step can be really easy and since it helps the Earth, it makes you feel good! It's up to you what kind of system you would like to implement, whether it’s a simple and small container that you store food waste in and deposit in a specific location outside or if it’s a large multi-tiered rotating system, it's up to you!

What is composting?

Composting is the natural process in which food scraps and organic material decompose, which creates ultra-nutrient dense soil that can be used as fertilizer for your garden. Composting is not a new practice but has become much more popular since many of us are making more conscious decisions and focusing on eating more organic produce or homegrown fruits and vegetables.

Benefits of composting

Some benefits of composting are that it reduces the amounts of methane greenhouse gasses and it is a very crucial component for maintaining the nitrogen cycle in the soil. Composting helps cultivate happy and healthy plants, since plants need Nitrogen to grow strong and build protein.

Using compost also reduces the need for artificial fertilizers. The use of artificial fertilizers can leach into the groundwater and pollute the creeks, streams, and rivers resulting in unhealthy fish and animals that are unsafe to consume due to the added artificial chemicals.

Cultivating Healthy Soil

Composting is a wonderful way to give back to the Earth and help us farmers grow more nutritious, healthy, abundant, and delicious plants, herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Composting is also a very valuable component in cleansing yucky soil and introducing good micro and macro bacteria so that it can come alive and produce healthy organisms.

So now we have covered some basic benefits of composting, next week we will be discussing what kind of container to use, where to put it in your home, what to compost and what not to compost, and how to start a compost pile at home.